MANILA, Philippines –Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino national convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia, has returned to her home country after spending 14 years in an Indonesian prison.
Veloso’s legal team asserts that she was a victim of human trafficking and was exploited by a criminal syndicate.
Romulo Macalintal, a veteran lawyer in the Philippines, argues that Veloso has no criminal charges in the Philippines and should be released upon her return to the country.
The Philippine government has not yet announced whether it will pursue legal proceedings against her.
Veloso was arrested in 2010 at Yogyakarta airport when authorities found heroin in her luggage.
She was sentenced to death by the district court of justice in Sleman, Yogyakarta.
In 2015, her execution was postponed after international appeals and the Philippine government’s intervention.
The Indonesian government has maintained its position on Veloso’s conviction but agreed to allow her to return to testify against her alleged recruiters, a decision seen as a significant shift in her legal battle.
Malacañang confirmed that Veloso’s return was the result of complex negotiations, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally involved. Her return was met with support from various sectors, including her family, who have campaigned for her freedom for years.
Veloso remains in a Manila prison, awaiting a possible pardon.
